Schwartz Market to close after 83 years on S.S.

Twenty-five years ago when Marty Dorfner and Rick Stanton bought Schwartz Market on South Side things were different in the neighborhood.

In the 1980s, people were more likely to visit East Carson Street not for the bars, but the antique shops. Shopping on a Saturday could mean stopping in at Wagner Family Shoe Store, Brown and Green's Men's Shop or Anthony's Curtain Shoppe.

Unfortunately, Schwartz Market after more than eight decades on South Side, will soon go the way of Wagner's, Brown and Green's and Anthony's. South Side's original supermarket will close its doors on March 5.

"We were hoping to find a buyer and that the business would continue," Mr. Dorfner said of the decision to close. Regrettably they were unable to find a suitable buyer.

"People are coming in and asking, ‘where am I going to get my kielbassa, where am I going to pay my bills,'" he added. The market has long been known for its homemade fresh and smoked kielbassa and hot and sweet sausages.

Even with planning to close in several weeks, Mr. Dorfner said he wanted to thank the all the customers who patronized Schwartz Market over the past 25 years.

The long-time grocer points to the changing neighborhood as one reason for the decline in business forcing the closure of the store. As the demographics of the community changed, the older generation that once shopped regularly at the store died off or moved away.

"People, particularly young people, don't cook as much as they used to," he says.

In preparation of closing the store the inventory has been discounted and deeper discounts will be offered for remaining merchandise. After closing, store equipment will be sold at auction.